Adjustable top table



W. E. WHITFIELD ADJUSTABLE TOP TABLE July 20, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 4, 1963 FIG. 3.

INVENTOR.

WdZEE/V E WHITFIELD,

ATTOFNEYS- July 20, 1 w. E. WHITFIELD 3,195,482

ADJUSTABLE TOP TABLE Filed Nov. 4, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4.

INVENTOR. 1 144,925 5. M/H/TF/EL 0,

United States Patent 3,195,482 ADJUSTABLE TOP TABLE Warren E. Whitfield, 928 Carraway St., Tallahassee, Fla. Filed Nov. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 321,148 2 Claims. (Cl. 108-138) The present invention is concerned with an adjustable top table and particularly a table having a top which is adjustable to vertical positions above and to one side of the table base.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a table which is attractive in appearance, yet economical to construct and which has a top which can be quickly and easily raised or lowered relative to the table base, will remain in any position spaced above said base as long as desired and will automatically move laterally of said base when being moved vertically thereof.

Further objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view taken from the front of the present table.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view taken from the rear of the present table with the top thereof being raised.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken on line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the table taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6 of a portion of the table, and

FIG. 8 is a further enlarged cross-sectional detail view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 4.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which like and corresponding parts are designated by similar reference characters, numeral 1 indicates a table top while 2, 3, 5 and 6 refer to squared panels. End panel 2 is superposed on inner panel 3, but spaced therefrom by spacing blocks 4 and 8 extending between and connected to said panels by conventional means such as screws, adhesive or the like.

Similarly end panel 5 is superposed on inner panel 6, but spaced therefrom by spacing blocks 7 and 9 extending between and connected to panels 5 and 6 by conventional means such as screws, adhesive or the like.

A pair of connecting bars 10 and 11 extend between the upper corners of panels 3 and 6 and are connected thereto by screws or the like. A foot bar 12 similarly extends between and is connected to said panels 3 and 6 by screws or the like, but at a lower central portion thereof.

A tube 13 has two pairs of opposing ears 14 fixedly connected thereto with each pair at an opposite end thereof attached by screws 15 extending into panel 6 with tube 13 extending diagonally of panel 6.

A rod 16 slideably extends through tube 13 and at its upper end has an extension 17 integral therewith and extending on an acute angle thereto. Extension 17 is fixedly connected to the underside of top 1 by screws 18 extending through said extension into top 1.

A second tube 19 likewise has two pairs of opposing ears 20 with each pair at an opposite end thereof and fixedly connected thereto. Ears 20 are fixedly connected to panel 2 by screws 21 extending into said panel 2 posi- 3,195,482 Patented July 20, 1965 tioning tube 19 diagonally of panel 2 in line with tube 13.

A rod 22 slideable extends through tube 19 and has an acute extension 23 integral with the upper end thereof. Extension 23 is fixedly connected to top 1 by screws 24 extending therethrough into said top.

A rod 25 rotatably extends through panels 3 and 6 and has a handle 26 fixedly attached to a medial portion thereof by a set screw 34.

The end portion of rod 25 extending between panels 2 and 3 has a sleeve 26 fixedly mounted thereon while a finger 27 integral with said sleeve extends radially therefrom towards rod 22. A coil spring 29 is connected at one end to a projection 28 integral with sleeve 26 and the other end of said spring is connected to panel 2 tending to hold finger 27 against rod 22.

The opposite end portion of rod 25 extending between panels 5 and 6 similarly has a sleeve 30 fixedly mounted thereon. Sleeve 30 has a finger 31 integral therewith and extending radially therefrom towards rod 16. A projection 32 integral with sleeve 30 has one end of a coil spring 33 attached thereto with the opposite end of spring 33 attached to panel 6 tending to hold finger 31 against rod 16.

In the use of the present table, panels 2, 3, 5 and 6 are placed on a supporting surface such as a floor with top 1 generally resting on the tops of said panels and bars 10 and 11. The user can raise top 1 from said panels merely by lifting the same which will draw rods 16 and 22 from tubes 13 and 19 guiding top 1 laterally of said panels as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 6. When top 1 has reached the desired heighth merely releasing the same will cause fingers 27 and 31 to engage bars 22 and 16 respectively due to the springs 29 and 33 holding said bars and the top against downward movement. To lower top I handle 26 is pulled turning rod 25 and moving fingers 27 and 31 from said bars whereupon the top will move down and inwardly due to the guidance of bars 16 and 22 in their sleeves 13 and 19. Releasing handle 26 will stop top 1 at any desired position.

The present invention is shown in the form of an elongated table generally designated a coiiee table, but it is to be appreciated that the same may be applied to other types of tables. The table may be made from wood, metal, plastic or combinations thereof and is capable of considerable modification and such changes thereto as come within the scope of the appended claims is deemed to be a part of the invention.

I claim:

1. A table comprising a table top, at least a pair of panels, means connecting said panels in spaced apart relation, a pair of tubes each mounted diagonally of an on a different one of said panels, a pair of rods each slideably mounted in a dilferent one of said tubes and fixedly connected to said table top and means for at times retaining said rods relative to said tubes consisting of a control rod extending between and rotatably mounted through said panels, at least one radial finger fixedly connected to said control rod and positioned for engaging one of said pairs of rods, resilient means tending to hold said finger against said one of said rods at various positions therealong for restraining said one of said rods from entering its tube and thus the lowering of said table top and a handle for turning said control rod.

2. A table comprising a table top, two pairs of panels,

each pair of said panels being connected together, but' spaced apart, means connecting, but spacing apart said pairs of panels, a pair of tubes each mounted diagonally of and on one panel of a different one of said pairs of panels in the space between its pair ofpanels, a, pair of rods each slideably mounted in a different one of said tubes and connected to said table top, a control rod rotatably mounted through one panel of each pair of said panels and extending into the space between the panels of each of said pair of panels, a pair of fingers fixedly connected to and extending radially of said control rod each in the space between the panels of each of said pair of panels,jresilient means-tending to rotate said control rod with said fingers abutting" one of said pair of rods restraining the m'ovementof the rod into its tube and a handle for rotating said cjontrolrod.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Wilber 1086 Congour 108--5 Piner 108-5 'Kormendy 108-5 Ryder 1086 Censo- 108-5 FRANK B; SHE RY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A TABLE COMPRISING A TABLE TOP, AT LEAST A PAIR OF PANELS, MEANS CONNECTING SAID PANELS IN SAPCED APART RELATION, A PAIR OF TUBES EACH MOUNTED DIAGONALLY OF AN ON A DIFFERENG ONE OF SAID PANESL, A PAIR OF RODS EACH SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN A DIFFERENT NE OF SAID TUBES AND FIXEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID TABLE TOP AND MEANS FOR AT TIMES RETAINING SAID RODS RELATIVE RO SAID TUBES CONSISTING OF A CONTROL ROD EXTENDING BETWEEN AND ROTATABLY MOUNTED THROUGH SAID PANELS, AT LEAST ONE RADIAL FINGER FIXEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID CONTROL ROD AND POSITIONED FOR ENGAGING ONE OF SAID PAIRS OF RODS, RESILIENG MEANS TENDING TO HOLD SAID FINGER AGAINST SAID ONE OF SAID RODS AT VARIOUS POSITIONS THEREALONG FOR RESTRAINING SAID ONE OF SAID RODS FROM ENTERING ITS TUBE AND THUS THE LOWERING OF SAID TABLE TOP AND A HANDLE FOR TURNING SAID CONTROL ROD. 